Posted by Al Ingham

Church last night opened my eyes.

It was a sharing service, where people of our youth community get up and share their high’s and low’s of the year, and their hopes and dreams of the next.

If you were there and are reading this, do not read this as an attack on you personally if comments I have made are directly linked to something you said. This is a mere thoughtful recognition of the short comings of today’s society, as opposed to a direct personal attack on any one.

It concerned me at how insular the comments of reflection and hopes were.  Hopes for this church, for the evening service included things like “I hope that the Christian group at Hutt Valley High School goes well next year”… or “I hope that God shows me what he wants me to do next year.” Upon reflecting for the year, one member said that their year had been a bad year

It was interesting to note a cheer go up whenever Hutt High was mentioned.  Maybe 20 people go to Hutt Valley High from our youth group. 25 max. It occurred to me that out 1750 students, 20 isn’t exactly something to cheer about…

Secondly, for the person who is waiting for God to show you what to do next year: God says “Seek and you shall find”. (Matthew 7.7-8). Not “Sit and wait for me to do something for you.”

Thirdly, how can you have an entire year that is “bad”. I’m not denying that people do have tough times and issues – but lets put our self centred western lives in perspective. You might lose your phone. And that might get you really upset and make you depressed.
Some people in the western world have never used a telephone – even ones with wires.
Your boyfriend dumped you?
Some cultures don’t give you a choice on who you date, or who you marry.

This sparked a light inside my heart. It made me realise that many people take who God is for granted. Heck, even I do from time to time. Like He is a magical being waiting to tend to our every need. Whilst a personal relationship with God is important, God is so much more than that.  He is so far beyond tending to our every need. The honour of God has been dissipated. There is no fear. No awe. No respect.

So I made a pledge. To shape my own life into a living testimony to think outside of myself. To think of other’s first. To show God to others. God is love – therefore the way to show God is to show love.  It’s even commanded – “Love other’s as yourself” (Matthew 22.37-40). I want to get away from this self centred way of thinking, way of seeing God and people.

Adding to this I will make a page on my site called “iYou” which will endevour to help people thinking away from themselves and towards others. Hopefully it will be picked up on and regularly checked and even added as content for the Youth website and for other churches to use.